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Top 20 Albums of 2014

It’s been another fantastic year of blues rock music. Our staff and readers voted on their favorite albums of the year and here are the best from 2014.

20. Count’s 77: Count’s 77

“Count’s 77 gives headbangers hope for the heavier side of rock and roll. They maintain a distinct correlation to the hard rock of decades past. A revived sense of raw, unadulterated energy gives the band a prominent foot in the modern rock doorway.” – Don Tice

19. Paul Rodgers: The Royal Sessions

“The Royal Sessions gleans inspiration from legends like Chuck Berry and Solomon Burke who recorded in the same location many years earlier, as well as from dozens of other artists who first inspired Rodgers to devote his life to making music.” – Meghan Roos

16. David Michael Miller: Poisons Sipped

“Miller’s voice coupled with his affinity for gospel songs definitely confirms that Poisons Sipped strikes at the soul. Miller’s debut solo record has proved that he has a unique take on the blues.” – Richard MacDougall

15. Walter Trout: The Blues Came Callin’

14. Ty Curtis: Water Under The Bridge

“Displayed at the forefront of each track is his natural ability to capture undivided attention from listeners with tantalizing instrument lines in each song arrangement. Highly evolved artistry, intellectual lyrics, and polished production are the icing on the cake of the perfected music package that is Water Under The Bridge.” – Jackie Howell

13. The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band: Goin’ Home

“Kenny and his band take things up a notch on Goin’ Home, likely influenced by the company they shared in the studio. Playing what you loved as a kid is like returning to Disney World for the first time. On the album, Kenny got to reenact scenes from the albums that inspired generations of music, most notably his own.” – Don Tice

12. Matt Schofield: Far As I Can See

“This album is a real treat for any fan of not only the blues, but any groove-based music. From the funk to the ballads to the straight-ahead blues to the shuffles, this record just feels so darn good.” – Nik Rodewald

10. Joanne Shaw Taylor: The Dirty Truth

“The blues scene has had its eyes on Joanne Shaw Taylor for a few years now, and with good reason. Her blues-gone-rock brand of music is incredibly cohesive, and Taylor does casually what most artists strive for.” – Richard MacDougall

8. Rival Sons: Great Western Valkyrie

“Created during a six-week studio lockdown in Nashville, Great Western Valkyrie is Rival Sons, pure and simple. Fans and critics alike have come to expect the explosive combination of skillful musicianship and precise performances on new Rival Sons material, and Great Western Valkyrie does not disappoint.” – Meghan Roos

6. Philip Sayce: Influence

“It is easy to herd Sayce into the upper echelon of today’s blues guitarists. His vocal styling paired with his insatiable appetite on the guitar give him all the tools needed for success, with one x factor, unadulterated raw talent.” – Don Tice

5. Thorbjørn Risager and the Black Tornado: Too Many Roads

“Make no mistake about it, Thorbjørn Risager is a man, his voice is thick and gnarly, like a Danish Billy Gibbons with a wider range. It’s always inspiring to hear a band that plays tribute to the greats, without directly ripping them off, taking it in their own direction.” – Tripp Shumake

4. Bernie Marsden: Shine

“Shine is by far Bernie’s best work to date. Filled with some great guest spots, some interesting covers, and a great collection of tracks this is one that you will play from end to end.” – Kevin O’Rourke

3. Devon Allman: Ragged & Dirty

2. Joe Bonamassa: Different Shades of Blue

“Joe succeeds in composing yet another kickass compilation set to drive the crowd wild. His arsenal is ever growing, and it’s inspiring to see him set his eyes on a new challenge, and better yet, see it shine.” – Don Tice

1. Dan Patlansky: Dear Silence Thieves

“After over a decade of making albums for us, Dan’s seventh album continues to deliver the goods that have made him the premier blues rock guitar player in South Africa, if not one of the top in the world.” – Kevin O’Rourke

Dan Patlansky is very gifted, and certainly passionate about his music. He covers a vast spectrum of the amazing rock/blues genre, with beautiful, mind-blowing guitar skills. His live performances are mind-blowing. Congratulations to Dan on this great achievement in achieving the top honour!!

So proud that Count’s 77 made the top 20 list, Barry Barnes, Paul DiSibio, John Zito, Stoney Curtis, Tommy Paris and Danny Koker have all worked hard at their craft for many years and deserve to be in the top 20 along with all the other very talented musicians who made the list!

Great list… THORBJORN RISAGER AND THE BLACK TORNADO rock! I think they’ll be in just about the same spot (numerically) on the WMHB Top 100 for the year. One month to go! ALBERT CASTIGLIA, TINSLEY ELLIS and SAMANTHA FISH will be up there, too. Blues rock is where it’s at!

A magnificent achievement, a rare combination of raw creative talent, musicality, focus, dedication, communicative genius and hard work combined with humility, a sense of humour and a great team and friends and family squarely behind him. Well done Dan, greatly deserved.

[…] Count’s 77. The group released its debut album earlier this year and the band was voted into Blues Rock Review’s Top 20 Albums of 2014. We caught up with “The Count” to discuss Count’s 77, the future of the band, and […]

[…] started writing this follow-up after 2014’s critically acclaimed Dear Silence Thieves (voted Best Blues Rock Album in 2014 by Blues Rock Review, USA). Similar to Dear Silence Thieves, is produced by Theo Crous and was […]

[…] started writing this follow-up after 2014’s critically acclaimed Dear Silence Thieves (voted Best Blues Rock Album in 2014 by Blues Rock Review, USA). Similar to Dear Silence Thieves, is produced by Theo Crous and was […]